Multiple feeding chamber lobster trap with self closing bait well

ABSTRACT

A lobster trap having at least two feeding chambers separated from one another with no direct access from one feeding chamber to the other(s), each feeding chamber having a feeding head to the exterior of the trap and a centrally disposed bait well accessible to each feeding chamber, such lobster trap characterized by the lack of a parlor chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Application does not claim the benefit of one or more priorapplications. Reference is made to prior applications herein to showstate of the prior art only.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lobster fishing methods and traps have not substantially changed formore than 300 years. Traps used in colonial times are immediatelyidentifiable and are created to the same basic configuration as a moderntrap. The only major changes have been in the shape of the trap(half-barrel shaped or rectangular) and in the change from wooden lathesto wire mesh. This invention relates to new and novel improvements in anage-old art.

Lobster fisheries have continually increased catches for decades withouta diminution of, or damage to, the breeding stock of the species. Thereason behind this fact puzzled scientists until recently. Advances inoptics and waterproofing have led to the scientific study of lobsters intheir native habitat. ‘Lobster Cams’ are easily found on the Internetrecording the actions of lobsters in and around pots twenty-four hours aday. Such devices and studies have led to a better understanding of thelobsters feeding patterns and activity patterns during both day andnight.

Existing pots were built on the assumption that most lobsters wouldenter the pot at night to feed and be unable to divine a way to exitbefore the pot is hauled the following day. Modern studies, however,show that 96+% of all lobsters which enter a trap, do so during the day,eat and leave. The only lobster caught in the trap is the one unluckyenough to be eating when the pot is pulled. Studies also show thatlobsters will not enter a pot if a larger lobster is present in thefeeding chamber, and will actually dig nests or ‘dugouts’ under a pot towait their turn to feed.

Current pots are equipped with only one feeding chamber and waste onehalf to two thirds of the room in the pot on nets designed to make itdifficult for lobsters to exit. Unfortunately the lobsters seem to havelearned the way out. Lobsters have no difficulty navigating 2 and eventhree chamber traps. Current pots additionally require the bait to beplaced in a bait bag and tied to the sleeper chamber. If placed loose inthe pot bait is easily removed by the lobster. Current ‘traps’ areactually feeding stations for lobsters. Given the free and easilyobtained supply of food it is little wonder that the breeding stocks arecontinuing to increase.

My system for trapping the lobster utilizes the current informationknown about the lobster, maximizes the feeding chambers available foroccupation and reduces the work of the lobsterman by eliminating theneed to fill and attach new bait bags to a pot and to remove used baitbags for refill.

The invention addresses issues discovered and reported in the followingarticles or web sites:

-   -   a Lobsters on a Roll, Colin Woodard, The Christian Science        Monitor, January 9, 2003    -   b Great Lobster Escapes Caught on Camera, CBC News Online Feb.        27, 2003. http://cbc.ca/stories/2003/01/10/lobsters030110    -   c Lobster Logic [They're smarter than you think] The Boston        Globe Jan. 24, 2003 Editorial page    -   d http://www.thelobstercam.com/Lobster Institute, University of        Maine, Orono    -   e http://www.nature.com/nsu/020211/020211-1.html, Nature Science        Update, a division of Nature Magazine

EXPLANATION OF TERMS

Certain terms are used to explain the background of the art and theinvention; and, for convenience and completeness sake, these terms aresummarized in this section. Such terms include the following

a. Lobster Trap

A semicircular or rectangular shaped wooden or plastic coated wiremesh—box placed on the ocean floor and tethered to a buoy for locationand retrieval. The industry uses the term lobster pot interchangeablywith lobster trap. For purposes of describing this invention, the termlobster pot, or simply, pot, will be used hereafter.

b. Entry, Parlor, Sleeper, Kitchen and Feeding Chamber

The existing pot configurations divide the pot into two types ofcompartments. An entry where the crustacean enters the trap, which iscalled variously entry, parlor or kitchen, depending on the locale.Parlor will be used for purposes of naming this compartment herein. Thesecond type of compartment within an existing lobster pot design is thearea where the lobster has access to the bait, which area is onlyaccessible from the first compartment. This compartment is confusinglyalso called the parlor, sleeper or kitchen depending on the locale thepot is being used in. For the purposes hereof Sleeper shall be used todescribe this second compartment which lacks direct access to the oceanand contains the bait bag in a standard pot. No sleeper or parlor isprovided in the invention, rather one or more Feeding Chambers withdirect access to the exterior of the pot are provided. The term feedingchamber shall be used to describe this area of the invention.

c. Heads

Standard lobster pots are configured with two entrance funnels referredto as fishing heads. In a standard trap these two funnels normally allowlobster entry into the parlor, and are formed by cord netting thattapers inwardly toward the interior of the trap. Heads are generallylocated on either side of the parlor. The heads may or may not beequipped with one-way gates. In the invention one head opens directlyinto each feeding chamber of the pot rather than into the Parlorchamber. No entry is provided from one feeding chamber to the other.

d. Hog Rings

A semicircular malleable, steel or aluminum, metal wire ring often usedin the upholstery industry. The rings are close-able by compression witha specially designed pair of pliers. Such rings of various types arestandard in the lobster fishing industry for fasteners of various traphinges and on other trap locations. In my invention the interior feedingenvelope or “V” feeder and interior partitions may be fastened to thetrap by such hog rings or by any other suitable clips or bands.

e. Baiting

Existing traps require the use of string mesh bait bags into which thebait must be pre-loaded with great effort and mess. After a trap ishauled the used bait bag with rotted fish is removed from the trap,saved for reuse and a new bait bag is tied onto the trap in the Sleeperchamber. In my invention a central bait well or station made of wiremesh, accessible to lobsters from all feeding chambers of the trapreplaces the bait bag. The bait well or station is accessed and refilledwhen the cover of the trap is removed to check the catch without theneed of additional bags or actions to secure the bait. Remaining rottedbait is drawn to the bottom of the bait well by gravity and remains asan attractant for lobsters and results in the conservation of resourcesfor the lobsterman. It is an object of the invention to create multiplechambers in a lobster trap at which a lobster can feed without contactwith other lobsters in the same trap. It is an object of the inventionto eliminate the use of bait bags by creating a fixed interior feedingstation. It is an object of the invention to make access to the feedingstation automatic upon opening of the trap cover or hatch. It is anobject of the invention to make access to the feeding chambers automaticwith the opening of the cover or hatch which is directly over thefeeding station. It is an object to provide a central feeding station.It is an object to provide a central divider which will separate potsinto two or more sections. It is an object to provide a divider whichwill prevent lobsters in one chamber from accessing the other. It is anobject to provide an entry system to each chamber which does not allowaccess to any other chamber of the pot.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to marine traps and lobster fisheries.More particularly the field of the marine trap invention constitutes asubstantial non-obvious modification of the industry standard coatedwire lobster fishing trap.

The invention provides for a trap which utilizes current scientificstudies on the abilities and habits of lobsters and minimizes the timeand effort needed for the lobsterman to check and re-bait the trap andmaximizes the potential for the trapping of one or more lobsters in thetrap when hauled. The trap provides for two or more feeding chambers,each individually accessible from outside of the trap, with no way forlobsters which enter a trap to move from one chamber to another. Eachfeeding chamber has access to a bait well which is opened for access atthe same time the lid or hatch for the pot is opened and closed when thelid or hatch is closed with out other action being necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a wire mesh, rectangular trap with the central baitwell or station of this invention, and the single feeding heads composedof fixed openings with funnel shaped nets each leading into the separatefeeding chambers of this invention. The trap is otherwise shown withstandard runners, weights and cover closure strap currently in use inthe industry.

FIG. 2 is a perspective similar to FIG. 1 showing a “V” shaped bait wellor station with the single feeding heads composed of fixed openings withfunnel shaped nets which each lead into the separate feeding chambers ofthis invention. FIG. 2 shows the relationship of the upper edge of thebait well with the top edge of the trap and the bottom edge of thehinged cover, by which the bait well is sealed when the cover is closed.

FIG. 3 is a view of an envelope style bait well made of wire meshmaterial.

FIG. 4 is a view of the “V” style bait well made of wire mesh material.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the opening of a four—feeding—chamber trapwith unitary wire mesh bait well. Fishing heads opening in each chamberare omitted for clarity.

The following details are noted in each drawing and uniform numbers areused in each to show the same:

# Description of Item Detailed

-   -   1. Standard wire mesh forming exterior sides and bottom of trap.        Exterior sides and bottom are assembled through the use of Hog        Rings where necessary.    -   2. Wire mesh forming hinged cover of trap, by which interior        trap is accessed. Cover is attached by the use of Hog Rings or        similar attachment devices.    -   3. Closure device (loop) used to fasten trap cover.    -   4. Feeding head composed of a fixed opening in the exterior of        the trap with funnel shaped netting attached, leading into the        separate feeding chamber(s) of this invention.    -   5. Weight and retaining cage used to ensure the trap sits on the        bottom in an upright position    -   6. Standard runners attached to the base of trap.    -   7. Unitary bait well or station formed of wire mesh which wire        mesh structure also forms the interior partition of the trap.        Bait well is assembled with the use of Hog Rings. Bait well is        attached to exterior walls of trap, through use of Hog Rings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is formed by creating a box of wire mesh or othermaterial. One section of the box being hinged and forms the cover. Twoor more openings are made in the sides of the box and standard meshfunnel attachments are affixed to the openings in standard fashion. Inthe interior of the box partitions are created by using wire mesh orother suitable material which are each affixed to at least one wall andbottom of the box and which are attached and fitted together in thecenter of the box in such a way as to form a well for the insertion ofbait which is closed at the bottom and open at the top. Said well isaffixed to the bottom and at least two sides. Each fishing head made ofthe aforesaid mesh has exclusive access to one feeding chamber of thetrap. Each feeding chamber has separate and distinct access to thecentral bait well. The top of the well is flush with the level of thetop of the box. The top side of the box, or cover, is hinged in such afashion that it lays flat across the top of the bait well when closed,preventing any bait placed therein from being removed. Said cover alsoseals the feeding chambers of the pot and assists in preventing theescape of lobsters. The cover is locked in position by means of astandard elastic loop or strap.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A lobster trap for the capture of lobsters, saidlobster trap having an interior and exterior, comprising: at least twofeeding chambers disposed within said interior of said trap, each ofsaid feeding chambers separated from one another with no direct accessfrom one feeding chamber to another of said feeding chambers; means ineach of said feeding chambers for lobsters to enter each of said feedingchambers from outside of said trap; and a bait well centrally disposedwithin said trap having a height, a top, and a top edge, said bait wellhaving an opening defined at its top for receipt of bait, said bait wellaccessible to each of said feeding chambers, said lobster trapcharacterized by a lack of a parlor chamber.
 9. The lobster trap ofclaim 8 made of wire mesh material, further including: verticallydisposed first, second, third and fourth sides each having the sameheight, a length, a top edge and a bottom edge, said first and thirdsides having the same length and said second and fourth sides having thesame length, said bottom edges of said first, second, third and fourthsides when joined together forming the dimensions of a rectangle; a basehaving the same dimensions as said rectangle, said base attached to saidbottom edges of said first, second, third and fourth sides; said topedges of said first, second, third and fourth sides forming a levelbeing the height of said lobster trap; a cover hingeably attached to atop edge of one of said sides, said cover having the same dimensions asthe dimensions of said rectangle, said cover adapted to open and close,said cover when closed, covering said opening at the top of said baitwell and the top edges of said first, second, third and fourth sides ofsaid trap; and said top edge of said bait well being disposed at thesame height as the height of said sides of said trap.
 10. The lobstertrap of claim 8 wherein said centrally disposed bait well is formed in aV-shape of wire mesh material, said bait well separating said feedingchambers from one another, said V-shaped bait well having an openingdefined therein at its top for receiving bait through said opening atits top.
 11. The lobster trap of claim 8 wherein said centrally disposedbait well is formed in an envelope configuration, said bait wellseparating said feeding chambers from one another, said envelope havingan opening defined at its top for receiving bait therein.
 12. Thelobster trap of claim 9 wherein said centrally disposed bait well isformed in a V-shape of wire mesh material, said bait well extending fromsaid first side to said third side and from said base to said level ofsaid top edges of said sides of said trap, said bait well separatingsaid feeding chambers from one another, said V-shaped bait well havingan opening defined therein at its top for receiving bait through saidopening at its top.
 13. The lobster trap of claim 9 wherein saidcentrally disposed bait well is formed in an envelope configuration,said bait well extending from said first side to said third side andfrom said base to said level of said top edges of said sides of saidtrap, said bait well separating said feeding chambers from one another,said envelope having an opening defined at its top for receiving baittherein.
 14. The lobster trap of claim 9 further including: fourvertically disposed internal partitions separating said trap into fourfeeding chambers, each feeding chamber having a separate feeding headopen to the exterior of said trap to allow for the entrance of lobstersinto each, said internal partitions forming said central bait wellhaving access to each of said feeding chambers, said opening at the topof said bait well being disposed at the same level as the height of saidtop edges of said sides of said trap, said feeding chambers having alack of direct access from one feeding chamber to another within saidtrap.
 15. The lobster trap of claim 14 further including: verticallydisposed first, second, third and fourth wire mesh members, said firstwire mesh member attached to said third and fourth partitions to formsaid first feeding chamber, said second wire mesh member attached tosaid second and fourth partitions to form said fourth feeding chamber,said third wire mesh member attached to said first and second partitionsto form said third feeding chamber, said fourth wire mesh memberattached to said third and first partitions to form said second feedingchamber, said interconnections of said first, second, third and fourthwire mesh members to said first, second, third and fourth partitionsforming said centrally disposed bait well for receipt of bait therein.